Doctoral studentship specialising in Strategic Communication

Lunds universitet, Institutionen för strategisk kommunikation

Lund University was founded in 1666 and is repeatedly ranked among the world’s top 100 universities. The University has 42 000 students and 7 400 staff based in Lund, Helsingborg and Malmö. We are united in our efforts to understand, explain and improve our world and the human condition.

The Faculty of Social Sciences at Lund University is one of the leading education and research institutions in Sweden and operates both in Lund and Helsingborg.

The Department of Strategic Communication runs Sweden’s largest education and research activities in the field of strategic communication. The department is also one of the largest in the field in Europe. The activities of the department are based at Campus Helsingborg, which is characterised by the authenticity of Lund University in a young and dynamic environment with an interdisciplinary approach. Another characteristic of the activities at Campus Helsingborg is strong engagement with the business sector and the public sector in both education and research.

The Department of Strategic Communication offers three popular undergraduate and Master’s degree programmes. At present, the department has almost 25 staff and around 330 full-time equivalent students. The department conducts successful research in various areas, including crisis communication, branding processes, organizational communication, public diplomacy and information warfare, and new media and democracy. The research environment is growing strongly, has active international contact and welcomes cross-disciplinary initiatives. The work environment at the department is characterised by cooperation in teaching teams, active work on strategy and development, and an international environment where communication in English is a natural part of the everyday

DutiesEmployment as a doctoral student in Media and communication studies specialising in Strategic communication. The position is located at the Department of Strategic Communication (ISK), Campus Helsingborg.

The successful candidate is primarily to focus on his or her doctoral studies. The doctoral student is expected to be present and actively participate in the research and education environment at the department and has the opportunity to take on other duties, such as administration and teaching, up to 20 per cent of full-time working hours. The employment is limited to 4 years (maximum 5 years after extension at 20 % service at the department).

Strategic communication studies deliberate communication initiatives of organisations to reach their general objectives. The research conducted is to highlight, create an understanding of and critically review the communication processes controlling and shaping organisations in present-day society. Strategic communication is based on internationally established research in market communication, public relations and organisational communication, and can be approached from a sociality, organizational and individual. The research at the department covers a number of areas within the main field, but the primary focus is on branding, public diplomacy, digital media, crisis communication communicative organisations and the profession (communication professionals).

The department is quite new and does not yet offer a PhD programme. This means that the doctoral student will be admitted to the PhD programme in media and communication studies. For more information on the programme, please visit the website (https://www.isk.lu.se/en/research/research-studies). The selection among candidates will take into account whether the applicant has academic qualifications and experience within the fields of strategic communication, media and communication studies, public relations, marketing communication or the equivalent.

QualificationsA person meets the general admission requirements for third-cycle courses and study programmes if he or she has been awarded a second-cycle qualification, or has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second cycle, or has acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.

In addition to meeting the general admission requirements, the doctoral student must have at least 30 second-cycle credits with the main field of media and communication studies or acquired equivalent knowledge (for example in strategic communication) in Sweden or abroad. The doctoral student must also have completed an independent project of at least 15 second-cycle credits.

The applicant must have proficiency in English sufficient to assimilate published research and PhD teaching, and participate actively in seminar activities.

Assessment criteriaThe appointment rules for doctoral students are stipulated in the Swedish Code of Statutes (SFS 1998:80). Only applicants who are eligible for doctoral studies may be appointed to a doctoral studentship. Admission is primarily to be based on the applicant’s ability to benefit from the doctoral programme. Major emphasis will be placed on the applicant’s Master’s thesis (or equivalent degree project) and the project idea proposed.

The application must include: 1) a CV including certified copies of degree certificates, grade transcripts and other relevant certificates, 2) a copy of the Master’s degree project and, if available, other research publications (e.g. articles in scientific journals), 3) a cover letter describing the applicant’s background, interest in the subject and purpose for their doctoral studies, 4) a thesis proposal presenting a topic for the thesis (no more than 5 pages), and 5) contact details for two references.

In addition, the assessment will take into account the ability to work independently and structured, but also the ability to contribute to good cooperation and a good research environment at the department.

Lund University welcomes applicants with diverse backgrounds and experiences. We regard gender equality and diversity as a strength and an asset.
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